Today I was inspired to write about my topic of the week by a young man and his journey towards regaining his health. As a young man he is met with the opportunities to engage himself in lots of activities. While he enjoys this, he is at the same time challenged with symptoms of his illness.
Being young rewards us with lots of energy and socializing is often center stage in our lives. We are out and about, called on by friends to join in on the fun. All of this is wonderful socializing boost our confidence and creates connections with others. So how do we balance wanting to be apart of the action and not miss out on any of it while recognizing the onset of symptoms due to our illness?
One important vital aspect to consider is how often we engage in activities even when our bodies are just not up to it.
When I spoke with the young man about our common challenges, I recognized one important shared aspects of my personality that resonated with his; the inability to say “No”. We are both the type of people that are in a way “too nice”. People who always makes themselves available to others, whether its as a listener or to support the relationship through a shared activity. The kind of friend that doesn’t stop to consider their own needs before someone elses.
Prioritizing ourselves and listening to what our bodies are telling us about what we need is important to the healing process. This is not easy. It takes being mindful which is challenging at any age, but particularly when we are young. It means stopping to assess a situation that we are planning to be a part of and asking ourselves if this is something that won’t place undue stress on our body or mind.
There are times when we extend ourselves to those we love and that is a part of being in a relationship. However, when the situation doesn’t call for such attention, and we are free to choose, we stand to gain a lot more enjoyment from the activity if we ask ourselves first for guidance. Saying “Yes” to ourselves and respecting our body and mind are important skills to practice. Keeping ourselves healthy by listening for our needs and creating boundaries with our friends and family about our time and energy will go a long way towards establishing a healthy practice for life.
So next time you are invited to something, consider yourself in the process- you’ll be making a choice you can feel good about and your body too.
